Page 41 of The Knot Before Christmas

I chew on my lip, ready to deny what he’s saying, that I don’t look at him like anything. But it would be a lie.

Because if I wasn’t already tempted to change my mind on how I felt toward a certain Alpha, after what he did for me just now... I’m seconds away from baring my neck and demanding he mark and claim me.

“Whatever,” I mumble. “It’s better than Cupcake or Pumpkin.”

“Damn it. There go my pet name options,” Will jokes, and I can’t help but grin.

“Oh, a funny one are we?”

Will just gives me a side grin. “Hungry?”

“Yeah.” My smile falls and I struggle not to get lost in his emerald-green eyes.

These men are supposed to be criminals. Assholes. The worst of the worst. Then they go and do shit that makes my Omega heart swoon. So not fair.

An hour intoThe Grinch, our very own Grinch walks into the room. He takes one look at the place and reminds me that not all the Alpha’s in this house are decent people.

“What the fuck is this?” Nick snaps.

“It’s called a Christmas tree.” I roll my eyes, grabbing the remote to pause the movie.

“I fucking know what it is,” he growls. “What's it doing here?”

“Seeing how Christmas is only like a week away, the guys thought this place could use a little sprucing up.”

“This isn’t our fucking house. This is a place to hide out until we can leave,” Nick scolds his brothers. “Stop acting like this place is our home.”

“They did it for me. Relax,” I mutter, moving to stand.

“That's the problem. They shouldn’t be doing fuck-all for you. You're supposed to be our hostage.”

“Keep thinking that, buddy.” I grin. “Hostage would imply that you're holding me to gain something. No one is going to pay fuck-all to get me back. Face it, you're stuck with me. And if not you, he is.” I point to Ian, who fucking beams at me like I just offered him the moon.

“Really?” he asks with so much hope in that one word.

Damn it. I can’t crush his heart and tell him I’m just trying to get his brother going. Because I’m not. Not really.

“Depends.” I shrug. “If you promise not to be a controlling Alpha dick, maybe I’ll consider keeping you after this.”

“Fucking hell.” Nick shakes his head. “You’re fucking pussy whipped, Ian. She’s talking to you like you’re a fucking dog. Gonna follow behind her like a little puppy too?”

I’m about to tell him to fuck off, that I’m not a bitch and I won’t treat him like one, when Ian stands up.

“Yeah, I am. And you’re damn right I’m pussy whipped. No, not pussy whipped. Omega whipped. And not by any Omega. My Omega. If my girl wants me to drop to my knees and kiss her feet, I’ll do it. If she wants me to kill every person who’s done her wrong, I’ll do that too. And if she only ever wants me for her heats, I’ll be right there beside her, because anything she’s willing to give me is worth the world in my eyes.”

He says it with such passion that my fucking insides get all twisted. I’m screwed. Yup, totally and completely fucked. Because this man is officially my Alpha. He just doesn’t know it yet. Can’t make it that easy for him.

After Nick’s little bah-humbug moment, he went downstairs to the basement like he always does. Ian, Will, and I watched the rest of the movie with Duchess snuggled up, purring away on my lap.

“I’m going to get started on supper,” Ian says, leaning in to give the side of my head a kiss. My belly flutters, doing nothing to help with the pure torture their combined scents have been putting me through the whole movie.

Good thing I’ve seen this movie a million times, because if I didn’t and you asked me what it was about, I wouldn’t be able to tell you.

Thankfully, I have a few scent blocking pads left. But I’m going to be out soon, and once I am, the jig is up and I’ll be outed for how much being around these Alphas affects me.

I’m fighting, fighting so damn hard to pretend they don’t, but with each passing hour, it’s getting harder and harder.

Ian has already managed to change my outlook on Alphas. Okay, not Alphas as a whole, just one particular Alpha. A tall, dark-haired Alpha who’s been nothing but good to me.

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